BEND, OR -- City road crews are nearly ready to start installing the roundabout planned for Empire and Purcell, in northeast Bend. Project Engineer Sinclair Burr says much of the prep work is already done, "We’ve completed all the improvements to Empire. We’ve completed most of the improvements on Purcell, itself. And now, we just have to complete the roundabout portion at Empire and Purcell. The next step is to close Empire and Purcell." A small portion of Purcell is already closed, south of Empire. Burr says that section will remain closed when the intersection shuts down June 17. It will all reopen when roundabout construction is done in mid-August.

The public is invited to get an update on this long-term project, at an open house, next week. "It is just to give people a better view of what the closures are for, what the expected outcome of this first phase of the project is," Burr tells KBND News, "And also, to give some information on the next couple phases of the project." Those next phases will start in the fall, "We’ll be working on building the extension of Empire from the Empire/Purcell intersection down to 27th and Butler [Market Road]. So, that’ll include crossing the canal and building a new multi-lane roundabout at 27th and Butler [Market Road]."

Next week's open house is Monday at Pine Nursery Park Pavilion. There are two sessions: 9 to 11 a.m. and 5 to 7 p.m.